Surah Al-Baqara: Verse 273 - للفقراء الذين أحصروا في سبيل... - English
Tafsir of Verse 273, Surah Al-Baqara
English Translation
[Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allah, unable to move about in the land. An ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their [characteristic] sign. They do not ask people persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend of good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.English Transliteration
Lilfuqarai allatheena ohsiroo fee sabeeli Allahi la yastateeAAoona darban fee alardi yahsabuhumu aljahilu aghniyaa mina alttaAAaffufi taAArifuhum biseemahum la yasaloona alnnasa ilhafan wama tunfiqoo min khayrin fainna Allaha bihi AAaleemunTafsir of Verse 273
(7). Verse 273: لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ (الی قولہ) فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ"For the
needy who are confined in the way of Allah ... Allah is All-Aware of it”.
Here the word, al-fugara الفقراء ' (the needy: those who need support for their physical sustenance) covers all those who cannot engage themselves in other jobs because of their religious preoccupation.
يَحْسَبُهُمُ الْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَاءَ مِنَ التَّعَفُّفِ : "An ignorant person takes them to be rich on account of their abstinence."
This verse tells us that a faqir فقیر (the one who does not own the nisab نصاب of زکاۃ Zakah) wearing expensive dress will not be taken as 'need-free' because of that. Instead, he would be regarded as faqir فقیر . Paying زکاۃ Zakah to such a person will be correct. (Qurtubi)
تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَاهُمْ "You know them by their appearance."
This tells us that it is correct to give rulings based on circumstantial evidence. For instance, if a dead body is found wearing zunnar (waist-cord which is a symbol of some pagan religions), and is uncircumcised, it will not be buried in the graveyard of Muslims. (Qurtubi)
لَا يَسْأَلُونَ النَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا :"They do not beg people importunately."
On the surface, this verse gives the sense that they do not solicit importunately but it does not negate soliciting without importunity, as is the actual interpretation of some commentators. But, in accordance with the consensus of commentators, it means that they just do not ask; لاَنھم متعففون عن المساَلہ عفۃ تامۃ (totally refrain from asking) (Qurtubi).
